Jerry Tarkanian, former UNLV and Long Beach State coach, is hospitalized

Jerry Tarkanian, who coached Long Beach State from 1968-73 before going on to greatness at UNLV, is honored at halftime of a 49ers basketball game this past season at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. (Scott Varley/Staff Photographer)

LAS VEGAS — Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has been admitted to a Las Vegas hospital after relatives say he was feeling weak and having trouble breathing.

Tarkanian’s son, Danny Tarkanian, says his 83-year-old father was also struggling to keep his eyes open when he was taken to Valley Hospital on Wednesday night.

The elder Tarkanian remained sedated at the hospital Thursday morning while doctors tried to determine what was behind his ailments.

Tarkanian was inducted last year into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. He coached from 1968-73 at Long Beach State, one of three schools he led to the NCAA tournament. But he is best known for his teams at UNLV that made four Final Four appearances and won it all in 1990.